PETALING JAYA, April 13 (Bernama) -- The government will extend the trial runs using the B5 bio-fuel to commercial vehicles by the middle of this year, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said.

Currently, only state-owned diesel-powered transport vehicles, army trucks and the plantation industry are using the biodiesel on a trial basis.

The biodiesel, to be used in diesel car engines and power generators are a combination of any vegetable oil - palm oil, rapeseed or sunflower oil - with petroleum diesel at a pre-determined ratio.

The composition of palm oil in the biodiesel blend will be the B5 blend (five percent palm oil to 95 per cent petroleum diesel).

"We are taking one more stage for this trial. In Miri, Sarawak, three bus companies have volunteered, allowing their buses to use this B5 bio-fuel. We have agreed to allow these bus companies to make use of the fuel," he told reporters during his visit to the Malaysian Palm Oil Council headquarter office here, Thursday.

Chin, however said that the usage of bio-fuel might be limited to only 10 buses for each of the three companies.

"This is because we are supplying the palm olein to be mixed with diesel free of charge."

Even if it just five percent of the composition, it can add up to quite a bit as the period of usage is from May 9 until end of the year, he said.

During the trial period the performance of the engine will be studied and the results will be evaluated together with Petronas' research unit.

Chin said the detailed information will be announced by Sarawak's Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud Sarawak on May 9, 2006.

Asked on the use of the bio-fuel by government vehicles, Chin said the capacity was very small.

"Actually, the number of various government departments nominated to participate in the trial is very small, therefore you can't expect a very big volume to be utilised at the moment.

"I can say that roughly it could be 10 tonnes a month," he said.

The move is a preparatory measure by the Government before the green oil is fully commercialised and ready for general use from Jan 1, 2007.

Work on palm oil-based biodiesel started in Malaysia in the 1980s and was spearheaded by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

Today, MPOB is collaborating with South Korea, Hong Kong and Germany in producing biodiesel.

-- BERNAMA